Deviled Egg Plates

Recently I painted this Catholic-centric deviled egg plate at Fired Up! Creative Lounge in Asheville, to give to my mother for Christmas. Presented here are the 12 apostles, (I didn't write out their names because my handwriting is atrocious) the Sacred Heart, Mary Magdalene and the Holy Madonna.

I got on the deviled egg platter kick after making this piece for a fundraiser for Black Mountain College Museum.

I love this stuff.

I'm pretty particular about keeping my brushes clean. I used to wash them after each painting session -- an act that would take at least 30 minutes and a lot of elbow grease. Then a student told me about a tip she learned in a workshop: Use baby oil to clean your oil brushes!

Now I just leave my brushes to soak in a container of this weird smelling stuff that calls to mind sunbathing in the mid 80's. (Who actually puts this on their baby?) The oil allows the paint in the brushes to be easily wiped out while preserving the integrity of the bristles. You could also use linseed oil but it's more expensive, and less accessible. A hunch tells me it may be more corrosive too, but I have not tested that hypothesis.

*I only use this with my oil paint brushes. Water and a little brush cleaner are all that's needed for cleaning out acrylic paint.

"Phone call" oil, acrylic, graphite on canvas 40" x40"

KIN

A selection of paintings exploring the intersection between memory and documentation.

PUSH Gallery and skate shop
25 Patton Ave
Asheville, NC 28801

Opening reception: Friday Nov. 9th 7pm - 10pm

On display until Jan. 8, 2013

Student Art Project

In my Abstract Art class at A-B Tech, I had my students all follow the same set of directions in the same order (listed below.)  These are the results.

Muriel Smith

Ripp Smith 

Wendy

Carol Abernethy

Gayle

Instructor

1. Paint five large geometric shapes using any color onto your paper. Eg: square, rectangle, triangle, circle, star, trapezoid, etc. (20 mins.)

2. Draw or paint an object that you brought with you to class today and outline it in one color. (20 mins)

3. Repeat the outline shape of the object at least 10 times on your paper using paint or charcoal. You may vary the size of the shape if you like but be sure to overlap the shapes.
(20 mins)

4. Fill in the places where the shapes overlap with one color of your choice. (20 mins)

5. Tear off approximately one third of your paper and cut that into 12 different pieces of any size or shape. If you are painting on a canvas,  find a magazine or paper to tear up. (10 mins)

6. Adhere all the pieces onto the remaining section of your paper. (20 mins)

7. Drizzle any color of paint over the top of your new composition. (10 mins.)

8. Add any finishing touches you feel the painting is asking for. (20 mins.)

Plein Air Fridays

Claude Monet Painting by the Edge of a Wood John Singer Sargent 1885

I've set aside five Fridays this Spring to paint "en plein air" with students. Come paint with me! Each session begins at 10AM and lasts until 1PM. I will be demonstrating how to approach painting "in the open air" and offering words of advice on composition, color mixing and brushwork techniques.

The dates are:
APRIL 20th
MAY 4th, 11th, 18th and 25th
EACH SESSION COSTS $35.00

We will be meeting beforehand at City Bakery on Charlotte street at 9:45AM and then driving to the determined location. Locations will be chosen based on number of people and weather, and will always be within the city limits of Asheville.

Please click this link to my newsletter for more details on what to bring:

•You do not need to sign up for every session, but I prefer to know at least 12 hours in advance if you will be joining us.

Shooting Gallery Paintings

Shooting Gallery

This Saturday night is the 3rd Annual {RE}Happening! I've been secluded in my apartment for the last 24 hours prepping a bunch of substrates that will be used for my piece, Shooting Gallery.


Using implements like these:



The crowd will be helping me finish paintings like these:

I have 8 in all that need to be completed and they're pretty big. I have no idea how this is going to turn out, but if you're in attendance please find me and give it a shot. I'll be set up at the firing range near the tennis courts. (Yes, there's a firing range out there.)

The paint I'm using is non-toxic and washable just in case you're worried about mussing up your swagger. I will have smocks and goggles and gloves too.

XO